Text pest claims hit Warne's comeback

Here we go again. Just when the banned Test bowler Shane Warne's thoughts were turning to playing again - albeit in charity matches - a mystery woman has emerged from his past with fresh allegations of harassment.

Helen Cohen Alon, a 45-year-old South African, has told the Johannesburg newspaper The Sunday Times that Warne pestered her with salacious telephone messages after the pair met during Australia's tour of the republic in February 2002.

Warne says it is a private matter between him and his wife, but suggests Ms Cohen Alon is out to get him.

Described as a divorcee and mother of three, Ms Cohen Alon said her first encounter with Warne was in a clothing store. "The moment he laid eyes on me, he was interested. He said I had 'a nice-looking ass' and asked me for my number. I gave it to him."

Subsequently, she says, he sent her numerous SMS messages, such as "Where are you now? Waiting for you, should I get dressed or stay naked? Room 2011 . . . Shane". Once, after a party, he had phoned her 40 times, she claims.

Ms Cohen Alon told the newspaper that she refused to have sex with Warne - who is serving a one-year ban for taking banned diuretics - because he was married, although she insisted she had gone to his hotel room twice where they had kissed, triggering the messages.

Later, she claims, she had been offered R200,000 ($42,000) to remain silent.

Doubt has been cast on Ms Cohen Alon's account by Clifford van der Westhuizen, described as her former hairdresser, who said he was present when the two met.

He says Ms Cohen Alon had pursued Warne. "She went to him and started all of this. He never said, 'Let's go for supper'. She said, 'I want your number'." Subsequently, Mr Van der Westhuizen says, Ms Cohen Alon told him that she was "going to blackmail him for 3,000,000 rand".

Last night, Jason Warne, Shane's brother and manager, did not return phone calls. The cricketer's company, 23 Reds, said the claims were "a personal issue between Shane, his wife, Simone, and the relevant parties".

It added: "This appears to be a blatant attempt by a person attempting to set up someone for personal gain - whether that be monetary or notoriety - and we will consult our legal people in0 this regard."

Warne, who had the Test vice-captaincy taken from him in June 2000 after confessing to indulging in risque phone calls with a British nurse who described them as unsolicited, has been trying to rebuild his image and stay fit for a return to Test cricket in February.